;)
Dasharath Rules Ayodhya with three queens.
Dasharatha rules Ayodhya with his three queens: Kousalya, Kaykayi and
Sumitra. Kousalaya is from the Kosal state. (She is not a princess.)
Kaykayi, the young queen, is a princess, daughter of king Kaykay.
(This region is to the west of Punjab.) Kaykay is a powerful king and gives
Kaykayi on the condition that her sons shall be the king of Ayodhya after
Dasharath.
It is also noted in Ramayan that Dasharath had over 300 wives. It is
quite possible considering that monogamy became a practice only in the last
century.
Kaykayi saves Dasharath.
Kaykayi is a skilled warrior. She goes with Dasharatha as his Sarathi on
many a battles. In one incedent, Kaykayi skillfully turns the chariot back
to the camp and saves Dasharatha's life. Dasharatha grants her two wishes.
A well-natured, cultured, Kaykayi understands that battlefield is not the
right time and place to ask for anything. She says she will ask for her two
wishes later.
Birth of Ram, Lakshman, Bharat & Shatrughna
For many years, King Dasharath does not have children. He perfoms the Yadnya
called: Putrakameshthi. After this Yadnya: Ram is born to Kosalya.
Kaykayi gives birth to Bharat. The twins Lakshaman and Shatrughna are born
to Sumitra.
At the age of 8, the children start learning Veda, military skills and
administrative skills under the able guidance of Sage Vasishtha.
Sita is born.
King Siradwaj rules Videha from Mithila. Like his forefathers he is called
Janak after a great king in the dynasty. He has two daughters: Sita and
Urmila.
Sita being found in a field seems to be a myth, only to make her
a super woman.
Ram & Lakshman protect Vishwamitra's Ydnya.
After the completion of their studies, 16 year old Ram and Lakshman go with
Vishwamitra to protect his Yadnya from Rakshas. Ram kills Rakshasi Tratika.
After the end of Yadnya Ram and Lakshman go to Mithila with Vishwamitra.
Sita Swayamvar.
Ram breaks the Shiva's bow (Kindhura) and fulfills the condition for marrying
Sita. Delighted Janak declares the wedding of Ram and Sita. Invitations
are send to Ayodhya.
Ram marries Sita. Lakshaman marries Sita's sister Urmila. Bharat marries
Mandavi. Shatrughna marries Shrutakirti. (Mandavi and Shrutakirti are
Janak's brother Kushadwaja's daughters.) At this time Sita is about 12
years old, and Ram is 16.
Dasharath decides to crown Ram.
After the marraige of the 4 sons, Dasharath rules the state for about 12
years. The 4 brothers take part in the administration and state affairs. Ram
is about 28 years old and Sita is around 24 years old.
Bharat and Shatrughna are visiting Kaykayi's father. Dasharath decides
to crown Ram as the king of Ayodhya. He does not declare this news and
only a select few ministers are informed.
Kaykayi asks exile for Ram, and kingdom for Bharat.
Manthara (King Kaykay's spy?) the Kaykai's maid, finds this news. Manthara
informs Kaykayi about the secret plot. Kaykayi is delighted. Manthara then
reminds Kaykayi of Dasharath's promise to king Kaykay to make Bharat the
king. She also questions Dasharath's motive behind keeping the coronation
a secret.
Kaykayi remembers the 2 wishes granted by Dasharath. She asks Dasharath to
make Bharat the king of Ayodhya and by second wish asks 12 years of exile
for Ram.
Dasharath dies broken hearted.
Kakayi informs Ram about the two wishes that Dasharath has granted her.
Ram readily agrees to fulfill his fathers promise. Lakshman & Sita
decide to accompany Ram during his exile. The trio, leave Ayodhya.
Heart broken, Dasharath dies in couple of days. Message is sent to Bharat
to return to Ayodhya. Bharat returns and condems his mother Kaykayi for her
doings. He performs Dasharath's final rituals. Bharat leaves Ayodhya
in search of Ram.
Bharat meets Ram. Takes Vow to rule on behalf of Ram.
Bharat follows Ram's tracks, and finds Ram, Lakshaman & Sita. He asks Ram to
return and rule Ayodhya. Ram replies that he has to fulfill the promise
given by their departed father. At this Bharat agrees to rule Ayodhya on
behalf of Ram, until his return from exile.
Ram, Lakshman & Sita move to Panchavati.
Ram, Lakshman and Sita continue their journey to the south. They cross
Ganga, Charmanvati, Narmada and enter Dandakaranya. Here they settle in
Panchavati on the banks of Godavari. Where many Rishi's have their Aashram.
Ram and Lakshman kill many Rakshas, who are Ravana's gaurds, roaming in
Dandakaranya forest. About 10 years of exile have passed. Ram is about 38
years old and Sita is around 34 years old.
Shurpankha wronged. She seeks help from Ravana
The beautiful Shurpankha enters Panchavati. She expresses her wish to marry
Ram. When Ram informs her that he is Ekapatni, she tries to kill
Sita. At this Lakshman cuts Shurpankha's nose and ears.
Shurpankha goes to Lanka, asks the king her brother Ravana to avenge her.
She also describes the beauty of Sita. Ravana decides to kidnap Sita.
Ram and his brothers all seem to have married only once. This could
probably be because they had seen how their mothers suffered as Dasharath
had many wives. Also Ram seems to be the first king in the history to
promote monogamy.
Ravana kidnaps Sita.
Ravana kidnaps Sita with help from Maricha. Jatayu tries to save Sita but
is killed. Ravana takes Sita to Lanka. Imprisons her in the garden of
Ashoka-Vatika. Keeps many rakshasi to gaurd her. Among them Trijata takes
care of Sita during her stay in Lanka.
Ram kills Vali, and gains a friend Sugreev.
Ram and Lakshman come to know of who has kidnapped Sita and in which
direction he went from Jatayu and Hanuman a general of Prince Sugreeva.
Though Sugreeva et et al. call themselves "Vaanar" it does not necessarily mean
that they were monkeys! There are people who call themselves "Naaga" they
are not serpents! It is only the name of a group.
Sugreeva agrees to help Ram get Sita, if Ram were to get Roma, Sugreeva's
wife from his brother Vali. Ram kills Vali. Pacifies Tara, the wife of Vali.
Makes Sugreeva the king of Kishkindha. Crowns Angad the son of Vali as the
crown prince.
Vali's wife, Tara marries Sugreeva after Vali's death. (Ravana's wife Mandodari
also married Bibheeshan after Ravana's death.) It was a common practice in
those times. It may not be what a person would wish. But, this practice
certainly took care of the widow. She received security, and enjoyed the
status of a married woman. Clearly a humane attitude comapared to the
practice of Sati introduced latter.
Search for Sita started. Hanuman finds Sita.
Due to advent of monsoon, search for Sita has to be postphoned. By the end
of monsoon about 6 months have passed since Sita is held captive.
Sugreev sends his generals all around in search for Sita. Hanuman is sent to
Lanka. He finds Sita in the Ashoka Vatika. He destroys the capital before he
returns.
Seems Hanuman and others had a glider like device, with which they could fly.
Also when Ravana set Hanuman's tail on fire, he was not hurt. So it must have
been a mechanical device, not a part of his body.
Ram & Sugreev's Army cross the sea & enter Lanka.
Ram, Lakshaman, Angad, Sugreev, and Sugreevs generals: Hanuman, Jambuvant,
Nal, Neel, and Sugreev's army start marching towards Lanka and reach
Rameshwar. Nal designs a temporary bridge across the strait. The army
builds the bridge and they all reach Lanka.
Ram defeats and kills Ravana.
Ravana's brother Bibheeshan joins Ram. Tells him all the inside secrets.
Ram-Ravana battle starts. Ram kills Ravana. Crowns Bibheeshan as the king
of Lanka.
Ravana was a Brahmin. A worshipper of Shiva. A fair skinned, courageous,
and a mighty king. Though the villian of Ramayana, he was a gentleman. He
does not touch Sita, without her consent.
Ram accepts Sita after she proves she is pure.
Sita is rescued. Ram asks her to prove her purity, only then accepts her.
This seems to be out of society pressure. Ram's speech at this point is
something to be studied. "I was wronged by Ravana. To wash out that stigma
I fought. It was my duty as a king, and as a husband to save you from your
capitators. Now I that have done my duty, you are free. Go where you wish!"
On this Sita swears by the Lord Agni (fire) and asks him to accept her.
Agni-pariksha does not mean she jumped in a pyre!
Ram, Lakshman & Sita return to Ayodhya.
Ram, Lakshaman and Sita return to Ayodhya. Bharat is overjoyed! Ram is
coronated as the king of Ayodhya.
Ram abondons Sita.
After a few months Ram hears from his spies, that people of Ayodhya do not
accept Sita as their Queen. Ram meets his ministers, to decide the best
option. As it turns out: As a King, Ram has to abondon Sita.
After abondoning Sita, Ram gives up wine and meat. Gives up sleeping on
matress. He builts a golden statue of Sita, which would be used in all
yadnya's as his queen.
Birth of Kush & Lav
Lakshman leaves Sita near the Valmiki's ashram and tearfully bades her good
bye. Sita finds shelter in the Valmiki ashram. Gives birth to the twins:
Lav and Kush.
Valmiki writes Ramayan.
When Sita found shelter in the Valmiki ashram, Valmiki was writing Ramayan.
Valmiki was going to write it only upto the death of Ravan. But after Sita
was abondoned, he felt it his natural responsibility to reinstall the
chaste, good-natured mother as the queen of Ayodhya. He also had to clear her
image in the eyes of the people and in history. So he made his own plans,
and wrote UttarRamayan, the part after which Sita was abondoned.
About 8 years have passed. Ram sends Shatrughna to Madhupur. Shatrughna
wins Madhupur. Shatrughna and his sons latter rule Madhupur. While
returning to Ayodhya Shatrughna stops at the Valmiki ashram. Valmiki asks
Kush and Lav to sing some parts of Ramayan to Shatrughna. Shatrughna is
reduced to tears.
Kush and Lav, sing Ramayan at many places in Ayodhya.
Ram arranges Ashwamedh yadnya. Many people gather in Ayodhya for the yadnya.
Valmiki sends Kush and Lav to sing the Ramayan in Ayodhya. Kusha & Lav, sing
Ramayan at many places. People are impressed by these two children. Ram
invites them to the place to sing Ramayan in his court. Ram and the people
hear the Ramayan & Uttar Ramayan from the children.
People of Ayodhya accept Kush and Lav as Ram's sons.
On hearing the Ramayan, the people of Ayodhya are moved. Everyone is certain
that Kush and Lav are Ram's sons. They repent abondonment of Sita. Ram asks
Sage Valmiki to bring Sita to Ayodhya.
Death of Sita
Sita returns to Ayodhya with Valmiki. Ram again asks her for her purity.
Sita prays to lord that if she is pure, may mother Earth accept her. Death
of Sita. (Enraged she probably jumped over a cliff, or there was an
earthquake and she jumped in a rift.)
Bharat's sons rule in Gandhar
On king Kaykay's advice, Ram sends Bharat and his sons to Gandhar. They win
the Gandhar provience. Bharat's son Taksha builds the city Takshashila (now
Taxila). Bharat's son Pushkal builds the city Pushkalavati (now
Charasdda in Pakistan).
Death of Lakshman.
Death of Lakshman.
Death of Ram.
Soon after the death of Lakshman, Ram divides Kosal among his sons. Lav
rules northern Kosal from Shravasti. Kush rules southern Kosal from
Kushavati.
Ram takes
jal-samadhi in river Sharayu. (Ram is about 80 years old.)
